Dashmesh Regiment owns up killing of RSS leader Gagneja

Jalandhar: A mysterious press note issued by ‘Dashmesh Regiment’ with its letter head titled ‘Shri Akal Takhat Sahib Amritsar (Khalistan)’ claiming responsibility of killing RSS Punjab leader Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retd) went viral among the media fraternity on Wednesday creating ripples. The press note issued by one Rajinder Singh Jinda dated August 2, 2016 with Resolution Number 501/ 2016 was sent by e-mail and WhatsApp to journalists taking the responsibility of killing Brig Gagneja and the attack on Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad Gupta in Ludhiana. A copy of the press note is also in possession with Daily Post. Interestingly, the press note was issued a day after the ‘Sharadhanjali Samaroh’ of Brig Gagneja, where Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had emphasised that the killers of the RSS leader would not be spared. At present, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was investigating the killing of Brig Gagneja.

In the press note, Rajinder Singh Jinda stated that the RSS leader Gagneja and Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad were involved in anti-Sikh activities in Punjab. He mentioned that Brig Gagneja was expanding RSS in Punjab and opened many shakhas very fast, which were promoting RSS ideology on the directions of Central government. Brig Gagneja and Gupta were indulging in ‘anti-Panth and anti-Sikhism’ activities and they used to defame the Sikh Gurus, which forced us to kill them, he claimed. Further, he also mentioned that if any other leader also indulged in such activities, he would also meet the same fate.

Jinda also blamed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for running an alliance ‘SAD-BJP’ government in the state. Jinda claimed that BJP was a subsidiary of RSS and they too would have to face action for aligning with the BJP. Further, claiming that the sole aim of ‘Dashmesh Regiment’ was ‘Khalistan’ in Punjab, he also made a strong mention of repeated sacrilege incidents of Shri Guru Granth Sahib and drug menace taking place in Punjab.

Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact Commissioner of Police Arpit Shukla failed, as his mobile phone was switched off. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harjit Singh said that he was not aware of the press note. “I am not aware of any such press note. CBI is already investigating the matter,” he said.
Chandigarh: The opposition parties-Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress-have hailed the EC decision, saying that they had been claiming from the day one the election to the Rajya Sabha was not fairly held. “Our stand has been vindicated by the EC decision. It exposes the hidden alliance between the Congress and the BJP,” said INLD leader Abhay Singh here on Wednesday. HPCC president said that after the EC decision, the election should be declared null and void. It is worth mentioning that two days after the declaration of result on June 11, 2016, the EC received a complaint from R K Anand and Congress chief Ashok Tanwar.DP
RS POLL INK ROW
The press note issued by Dashmesh Regiment dated August 2, 2016 was sent to journalists on their e-mails.
New Delhi: Indicting Haryana Assembly secretary in the ink row during Rajya Sabha poll, Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday recommended disciplinary action against him for concealment of facts and negligence while ordering lodging of an FIR against ‘unknown persons.’ The EC’s ‘unprecedented’ action against a senior poll official will, however, not affect the election result which saw BJP-supported independent candidate Subhash Chandra defeating Congress-backed R K Anand.

After EC action against R K Nandal, who was the Returning Officer for the poll, sources said the election issue can be settled through an election petition as the poll body has no role once the election is over. A row had erupted after votes of 12 MLAs of Congress and allies were declared invalid for marking their preferences with a pen other than the one officially supplied, prompting the Congress to allege foul play.

The Commission held Nandal, the Secretary, Haryana Legislative Assembly, guilty of “concealment of material facts” from EC and “wilful non-compliance” of its lawful directions and said the proceedings against him should be completed within a period of six months. “…In the Commission’s view, this is a serious case of lack of supervisory control and negligence in performance of duty,” EC said.PTI